Bullet casting machine

ABSTRACT

A bullet casting machine wherein a rotary mold carrying means supports a plurality of normally closed separable molds; cam operated means for automatically opening said molds, said molds being provided with cam operated gate means intermittently adapted to receive molten metal from a metal container and dispenser; valve means disposed to dispense metal from said container; and intermittent means for rotating said mold carrying means successively to align said molds with an outlet for said valve means and concurrently to operate said valve means.

United States Patent [1 1 Lemieux [111 3,709,288 Jan.9, 1973 [54] BULLET CASTING MACHINE [76]v Inventor: William L. Lemleux, Route 2, Box 3013, Apache Junction, Ariz. 85220 [22] Filed: May 5, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 140,358

[52] US. Cl. ..164/325, 164/337, 164/344 [51] Int. Cl. ....B22d 29/00, B22d 39/00, B22d 33/02 [58] Field of Search ..164/325, 327, 328, 337, 342,

[5 6] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 904,273 11/1908 Mundt ..249/108 1,350,352 8/1920 Anderson.... ..164/325 1,582,252 4/1926 Dodson ..l64/328 X 69 as 94 92 90 9a 68 U lf I FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 64,389 "4 1914 Ausilialll.4.1.1 ..Q'.....L'...LT...15:75 529,794 9/1956 Canada ..164/130 Primary Examiner-Robert D. Baldwin Attorney-Druminond & Phillips [57] ABSTRACT A bullet casting machine wherein a rotary mold carrying means supports a plurality of normallyv closed separable molds; cam operated means for automatically opening said molds, said molds being provided with cam operated gate means intermittently adapted to receive molten metal from a metal container and dispenser; valve means disposed to dispense metal from said container; and intermittent means for rotating said mold carrying means successively'to align said molds with an outlet for said valve means and concurrently to operate said valve means.

2 Claims, 9 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJAN 9 I975 SHEET 1 OF 7 IEEE-i INVENTOR.

WILLIAM'L. LEMIEUX Mam ATTORNEYS PATENTEDJAH 9197s 3 709,288

sum 2 OF 7 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM L. LEMIEUX B Y I ATTORNEYS SHEET 3 [IF 7 PATENTEDJAH 9 I975 ATTORNEYS IIllIl-IIIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR.

WILLIAM L. LEM IEUX ATTORNEYS SHEEI l [1F 7 F! sf 5 I35 236 PAIENIEIIJMI 9 I973 PATENTEDJAN 9 I975 I 3.709.288

SHEET 5 OF 7 FIE-5 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM L. LEMIEUX ATTORNEYS i, //o //2 1/2 1/4 1/4 //2 H4 '//a J20 FIE- 7 I INVENTOR. WILLIAM L. LEMIEUX ATTORNEYS Pmmanm 9191s 3.709.288

SHEET 7 [1F 7 HO VAC. I

F ILE 5 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM L. LEMIEUX ATTORNEYS BULLET CASTING MACHINE The art of bullet casting comprises various manually operable and semi-automatic bullet molding mechanisms. Such mechanisms generally comprise a pair of mold structures which are provided with cavities and which are separable from each other through the centers of the cavities so as to permit casting of bullets in the cavities and subsequent removal thereof from the cavities. Manual bullet casting is generally carried out by means of a pair of mold blocks coupled to a pair of relatively pivoted handles so that the mold blocks may be pivoted into closed position relative to each other and then pivoted to open position for removing bullets from the cavities in the blocks carried by the handles.

For various reasons, semi-automatic or automatic machines for casting bullets have not been practical due to either complexity or problems related to the control of molten metal as it is poured into cavities .in which bullets may be cast. In almost all bullet casting operations it is usually necessary to pour substantially more metal than is required to fill mold cavities and such metal is poured through a suitable gate in which the frozen metal forms a sprue which is integral with the bullet and then the gate is moved laterallyof the axis of the cast bullet to cut the sprue from the cast bullet in the mold and to relieve the end of the bullet so that it may be readily removed from the mold when the separable portions of the mold are moved apart. In prior art bullet casting machines it has been a problem to sequentially pour proper amounts of metal into a plurality of molds and tocon'trol the flow of metal and limit it to only a sufficient amount to fill the mold cavities and to form a proper sprue.

Attempts have been made to operate various machines automaticallyto cast bullets and these attempts have usually been met with considerable difficulty in the overflow of molten metalin areas around the gates and molds of such machines so as to render them very difficult to operate and in many instances inoperative due to the collection of frozen metal which overflows at and/or between the gates of adjacent molds. I

In accordance with the present invention, a bullet casting machine comprises a plurality of molds having separable portions and which are mounted in a circularrow on a rotatable means and wherein a container and dispenser is disposed to deliver molten'metal to the molds was they are indexed with an outlet of the dispenser and wherein a valve is utilized in cooperation with the dispenser outlet to meter predetermined amounts of molten metal to the mold cavities intermittently as they are indexed with the dispenser outlet whereby undesirable overflow of molten metal in relation to the casting of bullets in the machine of the invention is avoided.

The invention also comprises a rotary mold carrying means having a plurality of pairs of mold blocks pivotally mounted thereon by respective pairs of levers which are generally spring loaded in opposed relation to each other normally to hold the mold blocks together, said levers having extending ends adapted to engage stationary cams on the frame of the invention so as to pivot the respective mold blocks apart to relieve bullets therefrom; said cams also having precipice portions adapted to cause violent shaking of the mold blocks supporting levers for dynamically removing bullets from the cavities of the mold blocks.

The invention also comprises novel mold block gate means adapted during rotary motion of the rotary mold carrying mechanism of the invention, to engage stationary cam means for shearing sprues from bullets cast in the molds and for subsequently closing the gates into alignment with cavities in the molds for successively casting additional bullets therein.

The invention also comprises novel intermittent mechanisms for rotating a mold carrying means supporting a plurality of molds for successively indexing each mold with a molten metals container and dispenser. The invention also comprises novel valve mechanism for dispensing predetermined amounts of metal from the metal container and dispenser into the molds and an adjustable means for adjusting the amount of metal which the valve may dispense as determined by the requirements of the cavities of the molds.

and the sprue which may be cast in connection with the gate carried by the respective molds;

The invention comprises novel adjustable switch means operable by intermittent mechanism of the invention for variably controlling the operation of a dispenser valve which dispenses molten metal from the interior of a container and dispenser into mold blocks which are successively rotated into index position with the dispenser for receiving molten metal therefrom.

The invention also comprises novel metal melting and batching means as well as temperature control and alarm means for maintaining steady state operation of the bullet casting machine of the invention.

Accordingly, it is an object of thepresent inventio to provide a very efficient and fully automatic bullet casting machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bullet casting machine utilizing conventional mold blocks in connection therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bullet casting machine having a very novel molten metal control valve adapted to precisely control dispensation of metal into molds so as to avoid a substantial overflowof molten metal in excess of that required to fill the molds and to form a satisfactory sprue'in the mold gate structure of each mold. v V

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism for varying the operation of a control valve in connection with the molten metal dispenser of the invention. 7

Another object of the invention is to provide a very novel and efficient means for supporting a pairof bullet molding blocks in connection with a rotary member so that the blocks maybe readily opened to remove bullets therefrom and so that the blocks may be dynamicallyagitated for dynamically relieving the bullets from the cavities of the blocks after they have been cast therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bullet casting machine which efficiently produces cast bullets and may efficiently be used to recycle scrap metal including sprues and other small bits of metal which may gravitate into the area of the machine during automatic operation thereof.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bullet casting machine which is simple, economical, reliable and durable and which is ideally adapted for use by organizations such as police departments wherein bullets areproduced for the practice of police officers. 1

. Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from the following specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings. 7

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a bullet casting machine in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of portions of the bullet casting machine of the invention;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of the bullet casting machine of the invention showing portions thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view of an upper portion of the bullet casting machine of the invention showing portions thereof broken away and in section to amplify the illustration;

FIG. 5 is'a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line s s of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of a mold gate of the invention; 7

FIG. 7 is a flat view of one of the arcuate mold opening and shaking cams of the invention;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of one of the mold supporting levers of the invention and showing a moldblock in connection therewithgand FIG. 9 is a diagrammatic view of the electrical equipment forming part of the bullet casting machine of the invention. a

As shownin FIGS. 1, 2, and 3, of the drawings, the machine of the invention provided with a frame 10 on which ashaft 12 is fixed. A rotary mold carrier 14 is provided with a hollow sleeve 16 which is rotatably mounted on said shaft 12. A ratchet wheel 17 is fixed to the hollow sleeve l6 for intermittently driving the mold carrier 14. v

It will be seen that the mold carrier 14 comprises a plurality of radiating arms each carrying a pair of mold blocks 18. However, it will be understood thatthe rotary mold carrier may be comprised of a disc shaped piece of metal 'on. which the pairs of mold blocks 18 are crank pin 52 carried by a crank arm 54 mounted on a sleeve 56 fixed to a shaft 58 of a drive motor 60. As the shaft 58 is operated in arotary fashion by the drive motor 60, the crank arm 54 rotates continuously about the axis of the shaft 58 carrying the crank pin 52 in a circular path and causing the connecting rod 48 to actuate the arm 44 and the pawl lever 38 in an oscillatory manner so as to move the pawl 34 from one of said notches 30 to the next one and to thereby incrementally advance and rotate the mold carrier 14 in the direction of an arrow A in FIG. 3 of the drawings. The ratchet wheel 17, pawl 34, lever 38, lever 44, connecting rod 48, crank arm 54 and motor 60 constitutean in termittent drive mechanism for the rotary mold carrier 14 of the invention. v

This mechanism in the position as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, has moved and indexed one of the pairs of mold blocks 18 directly below the outlets 2 0 of the container and dispenser .24 which is adapted to dispense molten metal into the mold-blocks l8 and to fill cavities therein as will be hereinafter described in maintained in a circular row as they are shown in FIGS.

l and of the'drawings. However,'the molds could be carried in a horizontal circle, straight line or any mechanical devicethat would deliver the cavity to the pouring opening'of the pot.

- As shown in FlGf3Qof the drawings, each pairof blocks 18 is adapted to be indexed under apair of molten metal outlets 20 in a lower portion 22 of a container and dispenser24 which iscarried by an upstanding member 26 in connection with the frame I0. Disposed above the container and dispenser 24 is a batching container 28 which is also'supported on the upstanding member 26. The'c'ontainer 28 is. adapted to dispense metal into the container 24 as will be hereinafter described in detail.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 of the drawings, the ratchet wheel 17 is fixed to the sleeve'l6 shown best in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and this ratchetwheel 17 is provid'ed with a plurality of notches 30 corresponding in numberand spacingrelative to the pairs of mold blocks 18. I The ratchet wheel 17 is engaged by an end 32 of a pawl 34 which is pivoted about a pin 36 on apawl lever 38 fixed to a sleeve which is pivotally mounted on the shaft 12 in adjacent relationship to the ratchet detail. Y The intermittent mechanismin the position as shown in F IG.. 3 of the drawings, is at a dwell position wherein thepawl 34 has just forced a set of mold blocks 18 into metal receiving position and wherein the pawl 34 will subsequently be moved in a clockwise disposition to the next successive notch 30 and during the movement of the pawl 34, the ratchet wehel 17- is stationary and consequently the set of mold blocks l8directly below the outlets 20- of the dispenser 24 remain in stationary position whileithe crank arm 54 'moves substantially 180.

It will be seen that during each 360 cycle of operation of the crank arm 54 that the ratchet wheel 17 will be moved a distance equal to the'spacingof the ratchet notches 30 and the spacing of the respectiveipairs' of mold blocks 18 carried by the rotary carrier l4 which is supportedon the sleeve. l6 and driven by the ratchet wheel l7. The carrier. 14- is provided with mold block level mounting plates. These plates are disposed 'in spaced apart pairs. a

Each pair of mold supporting lever mounting plates comprises a plate 62 supported-in spaced relation to a plate 64 as shown in FIG. 3 of thedrawings. These plates are spaced apart so as to permit pivotal mounting of mold block supporting levers 66 therebetween as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings; The plates 62 and 64 are provided with pivot pins 68 and 69 which extend through the plates 62 and 64 and through openings 70 in the mold block supporting lever 66 as shown best in As shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the pairs of plates 62 and 64 are disposed in a circular row for maintaining the respective sets of blocks 18 in a circular row and some of the sets of blocks 18 are shown omitted for the purpose of illustrating the spaced apart relationship of the plates 62 and 64 as well as openings 72 adjacent the plates 62 and 64. These openings 72 are disposed to permit the installation of springs 74 therethrough. These springs 74 are disposed between lever portions of the mold block supporting levers 66 and tend to pivot them about the axes of the pivot pins 68 and 69 for holding respective pairs of blocks 18 in contiguous relationship to each other.

As shown in FIG. 8, one block 76 forming one of a pair of blocks 18 is shown connected to one of the lever arms 66. The block 76 is a conventional block such as advertised and sold by the Lyman Gunsight Corporation, or any other manufactured mold, the particular blocks 18 being two cavity mold blocks and are disclosed on page 31 of a catalogue designated 48A of the Lyman Gunsight Corporation of Middlefield, Connecticut, U.S.A. Each block 76 is provided witha semicircular in cross section cavity portion 77. As shown in FIG. 8 of the drawings, a conventional mountingbolt 78 is carried by the respective block 76 of each pair of blocks 18. The bolt 78 passes through an extending portion 80 of the respective lever 66. This lever 66 is also provided with a spring receiving recess 82 adapted to retain one end of each compression spring 74. Thus, the compression springs 74 are disposed between each pairof levers 66 and said ends of said springs 74 are disposed in the recesses 82 of the levers 66. Thus, the levers 66 are under force tending to pivot them about the pins 68 and 69 and tohold the respective mold blocks 76 of each pair of blocks 18 in contiguous close position relative to each other. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 8 of the drawings, each lever 66 is provided with a pair of tab portions 84 through which respective openings 70 extend. Thus, there are two tabs 84 as shown in FIGS. Band 8 of the drawings, and each tab 84 has an opening 70 therethrough which engages one of the respective pins 68 or 69 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings. 7

Pivotally mounted on one of the mold blocks 76 of each pair 18 is a gate member 86. Each gate member 86 as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings, is provided with an opening 88 pivotally mounting on a pin 90 in connection with one of the blocks 76. Each'gate 86 is provided witha pair of funnel shaped openings 92 and 94 adapted to align with circular cavities of the pair of,

mold blocks 18 when in close position relative to each other. These funnel shaped openings 92 and 94 are adapted to receive molten metal from'the dispenser outelts as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, and to overlie the respective cavities in the pairs of mold blocks 18.

Each gate 86 is provided with a pair of levers designated 96 and 98.

Each lever 96 is disposed to engage a cam pin 100 as shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings, when the mold carrier 14 is rotated to a position in which the respective lever 96 engages the pin 100. When this happens the gate 86 is forcefully pivoted about its respective mounting pin 90 and its opening 88 so that sprues in the funnel shaped openings 92 and 94 are cut off from the bases of bullets in the cavities of a respective pair of molds 18 and the arm 96 of each gate 86 thus causes the sprues to be cut from the bases of the bullets in the cavities of the respective pairs of molds 18 so that the molds may subsequently be opened to relieve bullets from the cavities therein as will be hereinafter described in detail.

Each lever arm 98 of each gate 86 is engagable with a cam pin 102 as shown best in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, for pivoting the gate 86 into position wherein the funnel shaped openings 92 and 94 are again in alignment with cavities in the pairs of mold blocks 18.

The pin 102 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, is stationarily mounted on the frame 10 of the invention and the pin 102 is only engaged with respective lever portions 98 of the gates 86 after bullets have been removed from the cavities of the pairs of mold blocks 18 so that the blocks may again be ready for receiving molten metal from the outlets 20 of the metal container and dispenser 24 as hereinbefore described.

After the lever 96 of the respective gate engages the pin 100, the levers 66 force the mold blocks 76 apart and remove bullets from the cavities in the molds before the respective lever 98 of the gate 86 engages the pin 102.

The levers 66, carrying the pairs 18 of blocks 76, are engagable with arcuate cams 104 and-106 as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3 of the drawings. These arcuate cams 104 and 106 are spacedapart and the pairs of levers 66 in connection with the pairs 18 of the mold blocks 76 pass between the arcuate cams 104 and 106 which tend to force the levers 66 together and to pivot about the axes of the pins 68 and 69 to move the blocks 76 of each pair 18 apart so that the cast bullets may be removed therefrom after the respective lever 96 of the respective gate 86 has been moved open by the cam pin As shown in FIG. 8, each lever 66 is provided with a cam engaging portion 108 for contact with the respective arcuate cams 104 and 106. I

As shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the cam portions 108 of the levers 66 pass between the arcuate cams 104 and 106 and consecutively pass over inclined precipice portions all as shown in a flat layout in FIG. 7 of the drawings.

As shown in FIG. 7, the cam profile of each of the cams 104 and 106 comprises an approach incline portion 110 which is initially engaged as the cam portions 108 as each of the levers is carried into engagement with the respective arcuate cams 104'or 106. When the cam engaging portion 1080f a lever 66 engages the incline 110, the respective lever 66 is pivoted about its respective pin 68 or 69 as shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and the blocks 76 of each pair of blocks 18 are thereby moved apart and as the levers 66 at their cam portions 108 proceed in a direction of an arrow B as shown in FIG. 7 of the drawings. The cam portions 108 then fall over precipice portions 112 and into notches 1 14; and under compression of each spring 74 the levers 66 are pivoted quickly to a position wherein the cam engaging portions 108 of the levers 66 suddenly and abruptly bottom in the notches 114. This causes the levers to snap into the notches 114 and cause adynamic reaction of cast bullets in the cavities of the mold block 76 which are then maintained in open position. Inasmuch as the dynamic reaction of the mold blocks tend to move toward each other, inertia of the bullets causes them dynamically to fly out of the respective semicircular recesses in the blocks 76 and to drop onto a floor plate 116 in the frame as shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. With the aid of a leaf spring attached to the frame 10 at a point where the gate passes under the spring, the spring clears the spru'e from the gate at a given point; As the wheel continues on, the bullet is dynamically ejected from the cavity, thus separating the sprue' from the bullets. Likewise, the sprue portions previously cut from the bases of the bullets by the gate 86 fall on the floor 116 and all the bullets and pieces of metal may be separated so that the sprues may be recycled as will be hereinafter described.

The recesses 114 act as indexing means for holding the levers 66 so as to maintain alignment of one pair of blocks 76 with the dispenser outlets during dwell operation of the intermittent drive mechanism as hereinbefore described.

it will be seen that a plurality of the precipice portions 112 and recesses 114 provide for a plurality of successive violent dynamic reactions of the mold block 76 and bullets therein effectively toremove the bullets before the cam engaging portions 108 pass over an angular portion 118 of each respective cam 104 or 106 tending to permit the levers 66 to pivot the block 76 into engagement with each other to close them as the levers pass from ends 120 of the cams 104 and 106. At this time the lever 98 of each gate 86 approaches the cam pin 102 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 of the drawings, whereupon the respective gate 86 is pivoted into position such that its'funnel shaped openings 92 and 94 are in alignment with the cavities formed by the pair-of blocks 18 which are then in contiguous position and ready to be indexed withthe outlet 20 of the metal dispensing container 24.

Positioned in the lower portion of the metals container and dispenser 24 isa molten metal metering valve 122. This valve 122 is provided with a housing 124 adapted to be'immersed in the molten metal in the lower portion of the container 24 and rotatably mounted in thehousing 124 is a barrel valve 126 shown best in FIG. 5 of the drawings. This barrel valve 126 is generally circular in cross section and is provided with a pair of cavity openings 128 which extend laterally therethrough.

As shown in FIG; 5, the valve housing 124 is provided with opposed horizontally disposed ports 130 and 132 which extend into. communication with molten metal in the interior of the container and dispenser 24 and the housing 124 is also provided with outlet ports 134 directed. downwardly into communication with respective outlet openings 20 in the bottom'of the molten metal container and dispenser 24. However, there are several types of valve designs that could be adapted not necessarily confining this invention to this specific valve outlined above.

It will be seen that the housing contains a pair of the ports 130 and likewise is provided with a pair of the ports 132. The barrel valve 126 is also provided with a pair of the cavity portions 128 adapted to align with the ports I30 and 132 as well as a pair of the outlet openings 134 which align with a pair of dispenser outlets 20 of the molten metal container and dispenser 24.

Disposed directly above the barrel valve 128 are and dispenser 24 so as to provide for venting of the valve 124 so as to permit proper flow -of metal from the cavities 128 when they are aligned with the outlets 134 and dispenser openings 20 as shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings.

The barrel valve 126 is provided with an end portion which projects outwardly' from one end of the housing 124 and coupled to the end 140 of the barrel valve 126 is a bell crank 142 which is connected by means of a pin 144 to a link 1.46 having its upper end pivotally connected to an actuating lever 148 by means of a pivot pin 150.

The lever 148 is pivoted on a pin 152 carried by a fulcrum 154 disposed in upstanding position and supported on the upper portion of the metals container and dispenser 24.

The lever 148 is provided with a pivot pin 156 pivotally'coupling an upper end 158 of an actuating rod 160. The actuating rod 160 at its lower end 162 is coupled to the armature of a conventional electrically operated solenoid 164 which when energized, actuates the rod 160 and pivots the lever 148 was to rotate the barrel valve 126 so that its cavities 128 may be moved from a horizontally disposed direction to a vertically disposed direction. In operation, liquid metal in the container and dispenser 24 communicates through the ports 130 with opposite ends of the cavities 128 in the barrel valve 126 When the solenoid 164 is energized it actuates the barrel valve and rotates it into a position wherein its cavities are disposed vertically and thereby communicate with the dispenser outlets 20 to pour metal into a pair of cavities of a double'cavity mold composed of a' pair of blocks 76 as hereinbefore described. Of course, it will be understood-by those skilled in the art that the mold need not be restrictedto a double cavity and may as well'be a single or multicavity. V

The solenoid 164 is controlled by a microswitch 166 shown best in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

This switch 166 is provided with an actuating arm 168 adapted to be engaged by a projection 170 carried on the sleeve 56 fixed to-the shaft 58. This projection 170 on the .sleeve 56 is disposedbetween the crank arm 54 and the motor 60 so that the link 48 misses the arm 168 during each rotational movement of the motor sh'aft'58 and the crank arm 54. r

The switch 166 is carried by a bell crank member 172 pivoted by a pin 174 on a bracket 176 carried -by the frame 10 of the invention. r

The bell crank arm 172 is provided with an arm portion 178 having an 'intemally screwthreaded rotary nut 180 pivotally mounted atthe end of the arm portion 178.

The nut 180 is provided with an internally screwthreaded portion 182 conformingly engaging an adjustment screw 184 which is provided with a finger engaging knob 186 on the control panel 188 of the invention. A I

The control knob 186 is provided with a shoulder 190 engaging an upper side of a plate 192 and the screw 184 is provided with a shoulder 194 engaging the lower side of the plate 192 so as to restrain the screw 184 axially whereby rotation of the knob 186 and the screw 184 pivots the bell crank 172 to cause movement of the switch actuating arm 168 relative to the projection 170. Thus, timing of the operation of the solenoid 164 may be accomplished to vary the tilting action of the barrel valve 126 and consequently to vary the amount of metal which may be poured from the cavities 128 therein. In accordance with the operation of this combination of elements, the cavities 128 may carry more liquid metal than necessary to fill the bullet casting cavities in the pair of molds 18 in each instance and consequently adjustment by means of the knob 186 provides a very simple way of adjusting operation of the barrel valve 126 to pour the exact amount of metal to fill the cavities of each respective pair of mold blocks 18 and to also afford sufficient metal to form proper sprues in the conical recess portions of the gate 86.

A dial head thermometer 196 may be disposed in the liquid metal container and dispenser 24 to check temperature therein and an electrically operable thermostat 198 as shown in FIG- is coupled in circuit with other electrical equipment of the invention as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings. The thermostat 198 controls a heating element 200 which heats the metal container and dispenser 24. This heating element being shown in FIG. 5 of the drawings. In accordance with the disclosure of FIG. 9, another thermostat similar to the thermostat 198 is designated 202 and it controls a heating element 204 which heats the batching container 28 hereinbefore described.

The switch 166 is shown schematically in FIG. 90f the drawings, and it controls the solenoid 164 as hereinbefore described. 7

Referring to FIG. 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that a hollow stainless steel float 206 is provided with a vertical stem 208 guided in a slide bearing 210 and a collar 212 of the stem 208 is engagable with an arm 214 of a microswitch 216. This switch is shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings and is in circuit with an alarm device 218. This device may bea speaker, a buzzer or any other suitable alarm device disposed to automatically alarm the operator when molten metal in the container and dispenser 24 drops'a predetermined level which may be nearly half full. Alternatively, a float may activate a microswitch which activates a solenoid to cause a valve in the top pot to open, thereby filling the lower pot as the float raises the microswitch is deactivated, thus maintaining a level of molten metal in the bottom pot.

A switch 220 is utilized individually to control operation of the motor 60 and a master switch 222 is utilized to control the entire circuitry of the invention as shown in FIG. 9 of the drawings.

In operation the thermostats 198 and 202 thermostatically control the temperature of molten metal in the container and dispenser 24 and the batching container 28 respectively. The thermostat 198 is adjusted to maintain temperature of the molten metal in the container and dispenser 24 in a range between 650 and 700F while the thermostat 202 is adjusted to maintain the temperature of molten metal in the batching container 28 in a temperature range between 600 and 650F.

Metal is added during the operation of the invention into the interior of the batching container 28 and when it is desired to add molten metal to the interior of the container and dispenser 24, an outlet valve 226 in the lower portion 228 of the batching container is opened by means of a handle 230. The handle 230 is pivotally connected by means of a pin 232 to a rod 234 which withdraws the valve 226 from an outlet port 236 so as to pour metal directly downwardly into the metals con'- tainer and dispenser 24.

The handle 230 is provided with a pivot fulcrum pin 238 mounted in stationary position on the batching container 28 so as to properly support the valve rod 234 and the valve 226 at the lower end thereof.

During operation of the machine of the invention the mold carrier 14 is rotated by the intermittent mechanism as hereinbefore described, and the molds are opened and closed and the gates 98 are operated in accordance with the foregoing description. The bullets and sprues are dropped on the floor 116 of the machine and the. sprues and small portions of metal are separated from the bullets and the scrap metal may then be recycled to the batching pot 28 together with added metal. as desired for maintaining continuous operation of the machine in conjunction with the automatic apparatus, if provided, for maintaining the level of molten metal in the bottom pot.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that-the temperatures of the metals in the batching container 28 and the dispenser container 24 are such that a slight superheat of the metal over and above the melting point is necessary in order to provide for efficicnt and accurate casting of bullets in the pairs of blocks 76 and the cavities therein and it is apparent that should the metal reach temperatures higher than the foregoing ranges designated, particularly in the container and dispenser 24, that the bullets cast in the pairs of molds 76 will have a very frosty appearance and tend to be inaccurately produced. Likewise, if the temperature of the metal poured into the cavities of the pairs of mold blocks 76 is at a temperature lower than the foregoing range, bullets will not accurately fill the cavities and accordingly, the thermostat 198 is designed to maintain the molten metal at the inlet ports and 132 of the rotary valve 126 at the desired range so that casting of the bullets will be very efficiently accomplished in the cavities of the pairs of mold blocks as they are indexed relative to the outlets 20 as hereinbefore described.

Each pair of mold blocks travels from the upright position adjacent the outlets 20 as shown in, FIG. 3 of the drawings, downwardly past the cam pin 100 and to a position at-which the levers 66 engage the arcuate cams 104 and 106 as hereinbefore described. During this time, the heat transfer of the pairs of blocks 76 is sufficient to fully solidify the bullets so that they may readily be removed from the cavities of the mold blocks 76 of each pair of molds 18 as hereinbefore described.

Operation of the valve timing mechanism forcontrolling the pouring of metal from the cavities 128 of the barrel valve 126 is accurately maintained due to the fact that the crank arm 54 is in a position as hereinbefore described wherein considerable motion thereof together with the projection is accomplished while the mold carrying means 14 is at rest. Accordingly, very accurate adjustment of the arm 168 of the microswitch 166 is readily accomplished by operating the manually operable adjusting knob 186,as hereinbefore described. Thus, dwell operation of the solenoid 164 somewhat simulates the tilting of a ladle to a certain degreefor pouring a certain amount of the contents from a ladle.-

It will be appreciated that the specific means for timing the operation of the barrel valve 126 and the actuation thereof may be varied; however, it will be appreciated that the valve limits the flow of metal through the outlet of the container and dispenser 24 so as to prevent an undesirable overflow of metal when the cavities in the pair of mold blocks 76 are filled and when the frusto-conical sprue recesses 92 and 94, of each gate 86, are filled. If desired, the cavities 128 in the barrel valve 126 may be so dimensioned that they will accurately dispense only a desired amount of material to accomplish the foregoing functions. Actually, the invention as disclosed provides for the use of oversized cavities 128 in the barrel valve 126 and variable timing for the operation thereof so that all of the metals need not be poured from the cavities 128 depending upon the adjustment of the knob 186 on the control panel-188 as hereinbefore described. 7

' It will be understood bythose skilled in the art that specific features of the invention as hereinbefore described are by way of example only.

lclaim: 1

1. In a bullet casting machine, the combination of:

- a. aframe;

b. mold carrying means rotatably mounted on said frame;

c. a plurality of bullet molding cavity'means disposed in a circular row on said mold carrying means, each cavity means having separable portions, each separable portion provided with a semicircular bullet forming cavity portion therein, each of said bullet molding cavity means comprising a pair of blocks,each block of each pair being one of said separable portions;

d. one of said separable portions being movably mounted on said mold carrying means to permit said separable portions to be separated for removing a cast bullet from respective ones of said cavity portions;

e. retainingmeans tending to hold said one of said separable portionscontiguous with a respective separable portion to maintain said respective semicircular bullet forming cavity portions in opposed alignment with-each other to form a circular I cavity therebetween for receiving molten metal;

f. intermittent drive means for intermittently rotating said mold carrying means relative to said frame; 7

g. a pair of levers pivotally coupling each respective pair of said blocks to said rotary mold carrying means, said retaining means being a spring disposed to force said levers to pivot in a direction to hold said blocks together;

h. said levers having actuating ends extending in opposite directions;

i. a pair of opposed cam means supported stationarily on said frame and engagable with said respective pairs of levers at said actuating end thereof,'said cams adapted to cause pivotal action of said levers in opposite directions to separate respective pairs of said blocks when said mold carrying means is being rotated b said intermittent drive means said cam means having precipice portions adapte to cause said respective levers to be violently shaken toward and away from each other when in open position due to reaction of said spring whereby bullets cast in said cavity portions are dynamically ejected therefrom;

'. a molten metal container and dispenser having a k. valve operating means disposed to be activated for pouring metal through said outlet when one of said bullet molding cavities are indexed with said dispensing outlet, said dispenser cavity of said valve means movable from an interior of said molten metal container to said dispensing outlet thereof when said valve operating means is actuated.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein a gate is pivotally mounted on one block of each of said pairs'of blocks, said gate disposed to overlie one of said circular cavities in pouring position relative thereto when the respective pair of blocks is in contiguous relation to each other;

first and second lever means coupled to each, gate; first lever cam means supported stationarily onsaid frame and disposed to be engaged by said first lever means topivot said gate out of pouringposi tion when said mold carrying means rotates" said respective pair of blocks away from said metal dispenser, whereby said gate is forced'to cutoff frozen metal adjacent to said respective circular.

cavities in said blocks;

a second lever cam means supported stationarily on said frame and opposed tosaid first lever cammeans, said second lever cam means disposed to be engaged by said second level means to pivot said gate into pouring position when said mold carrying means rotates said respective pair of blocks into alignment with said metal dispenser whereby metal may then be dispensed through said gate and into said respective circular cavity. 

1. In a bullet casting machine, the combination of: a. a frame; b. mold carrying means rotatably mounted on said frame; c. a plurality of bullet molding cavity means disposed in a circular row on said mold carrying means, each cavity Means having separable portions, each separable portion provided with a semicircular bullet forming cavity portion therein, each of said bullet molding cavity means comprising a pair of blocks, each block of each pair being one of said separable portions; d. one of said separable portions being movably mounted on said mold carrying means to permit said separable portions to be separated for removing a cast bullet from respective ones of said cavity portions; e. retaining means tending to hold said one of said separable portions contiguous with a respective separable portion to maintain said respective semicircular bullet forming cavity portions in opposed alignment with each other to form a circular cavity therebetween for receiving molten metal; f. intermittent drive means for intermittently rotating said mold carrying means relative to said frame; g. a pair of levers pivotally coupling each respective pair of said blocks to said rotary mold carrying means, said retaining means being a spring disposed to force said levers to pivot in a direction to hold said blocks together; h. said levers having actuating ends extending in opposite directions; i. a pair of opposed cam means supported stationarily on said frame and engagable with said respective pairs of levers at said actuating end thereof, said cams adapted to cause pivotal action of said levers in opposite directions to separate respective pairs of said blocks when said mold carrying means is being rotated by said intermittent drive means, said cam means having precipice portions adapted to cause said respective levers to be violently shaken toward and away from each other when in open position due to reaction of said spring whereby bullets cast in said cavity portions are dynamically ejected therefrom; j. a molten metal container and dispenser having a dispensing outlet above said mold carrying means, said molten metal dispenser disposed to pour molten metal from said outlet into one of said circular cavities, said intermittent drive means provided with index means for consecutively indexing said circular cavities with said dispensing outlet, said molten metal dispenser having a valve means disposed to control flow of molten metal therefrom and through said dispensing outlet; said valve means being provided with a dispenser cavity of sufficient capacity to fill said circular cavities of said bullet molding cavity means; and k. valve operating means disposed to be activated for pouring metal through said outlet when one of said bullet molding cavities are indexed with said dispensing outlet, said dispenser cavity of said valve means movable from an interior of said molten metal container to said dispensing outlet thereof when said valve operating means is actuated.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein a gate is pivotally mounted on one block of each of said pairs of blocks, said gate disposed to overlie one of said circular cavities in pouring position relative thereto when the respective pair of blocks is in contiguous relation to each other; first and second lever means coupled to each gate; first lever cam means supported stationarily on said frame and disposed to be engaged by said first lever means to pivot said gate out of pouring position when said mold carrying means rotates said respective pair of blocks away from said metal dispenser, whereby said gate is forced to cut off frozen metal adjacent to said respective circular cavities in said blocks; a second lever cam means supported stationarily on said frame and opposed to said first lever cam means, said second lever cam means disposed to be engaged by said second lever means to pivot said gate into pouring position when said mold carrying means rotates said respective pair of blocks into alignment with said metal dispenser whereby metal may then be dispensed through said gate and into said respective circular cavity. 